History of Handwriting Analysis

http://www.italicus.co.uk/images/analysis3.jpg

                  o   http://graphicinsight.co.za/background.htm

o   http://lprinfo.com/history-handwriting-analysis.htm

o   In 300 B.C., Aristotle states, “ "Spoken words are the symbols of mental experience and written words are the symbols of spoken words. Just as all men have not the same speech sounds, so all men have not the same writing," showing the relationship between handwriting and personality.

o   In 1000 B.C., Japanese scholars state that character related to the way a man traces his bars according to the thickness, length, rigidity or suppleness.

o   In 1611 Prospero Aldorisio writes a book that describes handwriting analysis.

o   Camilo Baldi also describes handwriting analysis in 1622 however his book is not officially published until 1625.

o    Abee Michon published books that coined the name of “graphology” in the late 1800s. Crepieux Jamin later published a series of books in other languages that classified the idea into a comprehensive system.

o   From 1893 to 1907 Alfred Binet conducts rejected research.

o   During the 1920’s Dr. Ludwig Klages applies the gestalt theory to graphology, advances theories of rhythm and “form level,” and vastly expands the scope of graphology in Germany.

o   In 1929 Milton Bunker founds The American Grapho Analysis Society that teaches Graphoanalysis into two studies: Graphoanalysis and Holistic Graphology. Klara G Roman, a scholar, publishes books still considered foundation for contemporary American Holistic graphology.

o  In 1939, Hans J Jacoby, writes a book that brings the European method of analysis to England and America.

o   Charlie Cole organizes Handwriting Workshop Unlimited for students of Graphoanalysis, that included ideas of Klara Roman. In 1960, all participants were expelled, which led to the formation of the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation and later the American Association of Handwriting Analysts.

o   In 1966, Robert Heiss organizes handwriting into “Space, Form, and Movement” and states that all writing characteristics can be arranged under the categories.

o   In 1972, the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation and the American Association of Handwriting Analysts want to form a single organization.

o   in 1976, the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation and the American Association of Handwriting Analysts form to create the Council of Graphological Societiesm.

o   In the mid 1990’s, the Starzecpyzel Daubert hearing stated that forensic document examination “does not employ rigorous methodology,” which encourages the continuation of scientific methods and standards in forensic handwriting analysis.

12 Handwriting Characteristics

o http://www.clt.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/112506/fsp10_handwriting.pdf

o In handwriting analysis there are twelve major characteristics that experts look at to identify a person's individual writing style.

o  Line quality

o  Depending on the speed the document was written at, the pen marks will appear either smooth and free flowing or shaking and wavering.

ebriganttiforensics

o  Spacing

o   The distance between letters and words can appear consistent or inconsistent. 

o  Ratio of relative height, width and size of letter

o   Letters can have different ratio of relative height, width and size and can appear consistent or inconsistent. 

o  Pen lifts and separations





o   When the writer stops to form new letters or begin new words. In the case of forgery, the place may be unusual. 

o  Connecting strokes

o   Between to letters or words there may be connecting strokes. Capital letters may or may not be connected to lowercase letters.

  o  Beginning and ending strokes

o   The beginning and end or strokes may be straight, curled, long, short, an upstroke or a downstroke

o  Unusual letter formations

ebriganttiforensics

o   Some letters may be formed unusually such as backward, with a tail, or unusually capitol. 

o Shading or pen pressure

o   The pen pressure may vary on up or downward strokes.

o  Slant



o   There may be a slant to the left, right, up, or down, and either consistent or inconsistent.

o  Baseline habits

o   Compared to a line, the writing may tend to be above or below it.

o  Flourishes and embellishments

o   Additional characteristics may or may not occur in the writing.

o  Diacritic placement

ebriganttiforensics

o The way t’s are crossed and i’s are dotted can vary, such as to the right or the left.
o Also, experts can usually tell if the writer is right or left handed by the way the pen crosses the page. Right handed writers pull the pen across while left hand writers push the pen across, emphasizing different pen strokes and creating identifiable differences of the letter shapes.

Handwriting Analysis

o   http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00206/text_nts_handwriting_voice_evidence.htm

o    Handwriting analysis is a process that makes it possible to match a piece of handwriting to an individual. It is often used in forensics by comparing and authenticating documents in forgery cases involving ransom notes, forged contracts, forged wills, fake ID's, fake passports, and other forms of writing. It is easy to prove a person's handwriting because everyone writies with unique characteristics formed at the time they first learned how to write. These special characteristics include line quality, form, content, and arrangement. At first, analysts compare handwriting by plain sight or a hand lens, but special lighting such as angled or backlights, can be used to show the document in more detail. Infared Spectroscope can also be used to examine ink.

http://www.myhandwriting.com/images/ebbySAMP.jpg

Check Forgery Activity Reflection (See Reflection page)

o   SEE REFLECTION PAGE ON RIGHT

How forensic handwriting analysis was used to expose forgery case

o  http://www.enotes.com/handwriting-forgery-reference/handwriting-forgery

o  Handwriting analysis can be used to verify suspects by examining the legitimacy of signatures and legal identifications. In recent years however, computer-generated holograms of signatures are used to analyze tiny variations in handwriting which makes it easier to identify the writer.

o   http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chem.sc.edu%2Fanalytical%2Fchem107%Flab4_032205.pdf&ei=P87FTqPiDci2twfRt_zkCw&usg=AFQjCNHDwNwCzGiZn65NsfrWOGaFoyIRKg

o   On March 1, 1932 Charles Lindbergh, Jr. was kindnapped from the nursery of the Lindbergh home in New Jersey. When the premise was searched by the police, a $50,000 ransom note was found on the nursery window sill, along with a ladder and traces of mud footprints on the floor. A total of twelve ransom notes were acquired before an intermediary, Dr. John F. Condon, met with a man called “John” to negotiate the exchange. The demands were met and a thirteenth note instructed that the child could found on a boat named “Nellie” near Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Although two searches were conducted there, the boy was not found until May 13, 1932 by an unsuspecting individual. Multiple investigations followed, including handwriting analysis. After reviewing the ransom notes, nearly all of the experts agreed that they were written by the same person. They were also able to conclude that the writer was of German nationality but had spent some time in America. This was conclusion was important because it enabled the investigators to further identify the characteristics of the kidnapper, Bruno Richard Hauptmann.

History of hair and fiber analysis



FBI lab technician cuts a sample of fabric from the clothing of a hit-and-run victim for comparison with fibers taken from the bumper of a suspect's car. © BETTMANN/CORBIS

o http://www.ehow.com/about_6102496_forensic-science_-hair-fiber-analysis.html

o   Once the value of using hair and fiber analyssis was realized, it began its use in criminal investigations. In 1857 in France, the first scientific report of the study of hair was published. Then the field of microscopic hair examination took off and began to expand rapidly in the early 20th century. In 1931, " Hairs of Mammalia form the Medico-legal Aspect" was published by professor John Glaister and became an important resource. Also, in 1977, John Hick's "Microscopy of Hairs: A Practical Guide and Manual" became a basis for forensic examination.

Diagram of a complete hair

http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/spiritualresearch/spiritualityandhealth/images/Hair-ver-1-Normal.gif

ohttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chem.sc.edu%2Fanalytical%2Fchem107%2Flab4_032205.pdf&ei=P87FTqPiDci2twfRt_zkCw&usg=AFQjCNHDwNwCzGiZn65NsfrWOGaFoyIRKg

o   Hair is defined as a thin, thread-like outgrowth from am follicle in skin.  It grows from the papilla and except for at its origin is made of dead cornified cells. It has a shaft that extends from above the skin and a root that is imbedded in the skin. The bottom of the root expands to form the root bulb which is composed of keratin, melanin, and trace quantities of metallic elements. These elements are deposited in the hair when it grows or from an external environment. After its growth, the follicle stays in a resting stage before it completely dies and is removed from the body. It has three main parts the cuticle, medulla, and cortex. The cuticle of a hair is the outer layer of the hair that is translucent. It covers the shaft with scales that point from the proximal to the distal end of the hair. There are three main scale structures that form the cuticle but can differ. Coronal scale structures are crown-like and are usually found in small animals with fine hair diameters.  Spinious scale structures are petal-like, triangle shaped, extend from the hair shaft and are never found in human hairs. Imbricate scale structures are flattened and are often found in many animal and human hairs. The medulla of the hair is the central core of cells it contains and is filled with air. Under transmitted light it looks black, with reflected light white, and clear if it is filled with mounting medium or other substance. The cortex of a hair is its main body of elongated and fusiform cells. It can consists of cortical fusi, pigment granules, and/or ovoid bodies. Cortical fusi are irregular-shaped airspaces often found near the root. Pigment granules are small, dark, solid structures that have a granular appearance. Ovoid bardies are fairly large, solid structures and are spherical or oval shape.

http://www.chem.sc.edu/analytical/chem107/lab4_032205.pdf

Other types of fibers

o   http://www.enotes.com/fibers-reference/fibers

o   http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CDAQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.swgmat.org%2FForensic%2520Fiber%2520Examination%2520Guidelines.pdf&ei=u8rFToz-JYyTtwex87y4DA&usg=AFQjCNHL65Z8N0Swy2p1XoVjw6vCQjEs4A 

alpaca yarn

jute fibers

            

o   Fibers are the smallest measures of textile materials, and are naturally composed from plants and animals, or are manufactured. The type of a fiber, its commonness and rarity, as well as the way it is made into fiber, helps identify how useful a specific fiber will be in uncovering people involved in a crime. For example, cotton, which is one of the most common plant fibers, would be less beneficial than another less common plant fiber such as flax, jute, hemp, or kapok (enotes and google.com). In some cases, however, fibers can increase in significance due to certain characteristics they have. For instance, depending on its type, length, degree of twist, or processing technique, cotton could increase in importance. Similarly, a common animal fiber, wool, would be more difficult to identify than other animal fibers like camel, alpaca, cashmere, or mohair. Still, various characteristics such as the coarseness of the fiber, the diameter, and the degree of scale protrusion could contradict that conclusion. The third fiber type, manufactured, is the most common found fiber in textiles. They can originate either from natural materials or be entirely synthetic made. The most common kinds of manufacture fibers are polyester and nylon, but rayons, acetates, and acrylics are also encountered. Besides the kind of fiber, the amount of production, the end use, the cross-sectional shape, microscopic characteristics, and other traits could affect its importance. Other variables of fiber identification include the color, number of fibers found, fiber location, fabric types, nature of contact, multiple fiber association, volume of fiber production and fiber transfer and persistence (google.com).

o      http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Alpackaull.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Jute_under_Sun.jpg

Hair/fiber collection techniques

o   http://www.crimeandclues.com/index.php/forensic-science-a-csi/trace-a-dna/19-trace-evidence-hair  



http://www.nij.gov/training/firearms-training/module06/images/fir_m06_t04_01.1.jpg

o   Depending on the circumstance, collection of hair evidence can be performed in numerous ways. The first type of collection for visually observed hairs can be gathered with the investigators hands or with tweezers. When choosing tweezers, however, note that they can cause damage to the hair structure and may hinder DNA analysis by crushing the delicate root structure and surrounding tissue.  The next kind of collection for observable or unobservable hairs utilizes clear tape to lift up the evidence from various surfaces. With this approach, be cautious that fibers from the source do not obstruct your evidence by sticking to the tape. The third technique, vacuuming, is employed in large crimes scenes where major points of transfer are unidentified or on stationary objects that cannot be moved elsewhere.  Another way to gather hair evidence is by brushing, scraping, or shaking the observed material over a white sheet of paper to wear down and remove hair attached to the article. This process would require the separation of detached trace evidence into categories such as hair, fiber, or glass. A similar approach to collect hair evidence would be to place materials in a bag and agitate it. The benefit of this is that all evidence is completely caught in the bag. The last method of collection is accomplished by combing or clipping any loose hairs from either a suspect or a victim. A sufficient amount of scalp hair is roughly 100 hairs and 30 to 50 for other areas of the body.
o    http://dofs.gbi.georgia.gov/00/article/0,2086,75166109_84393031_84525445,00.html#fibers 

http://www.evidentcrimescene.com/cata/evid2/envelopeGlassine.jpg

o   Fibers from items such as clothing, are often found in cases involving an individual’s struggle. When handling evidence, be sure to separate the location of the suspect and the victim so they are not confused with each other. Try to collect the entire item under investigation, however, if this is not possible, first perform a tape lift on the item and then complete a fiber standard of it. To collect transferred fibers, use a clean plastic surface for transport rather than using paper or cards because it may prevent their recovery and comparison. If there is any indication that the victim and suspect contacted a specific source, fiber standards, or known samples, should be taken.

Typical hair/fiber analysis

o   http://www.chymist.com/FIBER%20ANALYSIS.pdf

o   http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/lab/forensic-science-communications/fsc/july2000/deedric1.htm

o   There is no exact procedure scientists use to analyze fiber, however, microscopic examination with longitudinal and cross sectional samples is a common method. Other tests such as burning, solubility, and color can also identify fiber (chymist.com). Similar to fiber analysis, hair analysis is usually done by light microscopy. This process involves two steps; first identify the questioned to hair and second to compare the questioned hair to the known hair. The identification of hair depends on how distinctive its properties are, which can be seen through comparison microscopy. Comparison microscopes have two compound light microscopes that are connected by an optical bridge that allow for the microscopic observation of two different hairs at the same time. It is hard to determine a statistical probability for a hair match because there is no exact way to quantitatively assess the microscopic characteristics in hair. To examine an unknown hair, first identify where it is from such as an animal or human then continue to analyze more specifically its type such as dog breed. Factors that affect analysis include experience, training, suitability of known hair standards, and adequacy of equipment (fbi.gov).

o     http://www.chem.sc.edu/analytical/chem107/lab4_032205.pdf
o     Similarly, hair evidences can be analyzed with microscopes using side-by-side comparison. This identify can classify race, region of body, length, color, and how the hair was removed. While it is unlikely that hairs from different people will look exactly the same under microscopic examination, it is possible. To be certain, hair evidence should examined through mtDNA sequencing because by it will verify that the identification of the hair is accurate. The drawbacks of mtDNA are that there is a greater cost, increased time period, it may not always be possible to completely extract DNA, there may not be enough tissue present, and the process destroys hairs. Thus it is important to still preform a microscopic examination and to consider all the factors involved with mtDNA sequencing.

Reliablitity of hair/fiber

o

o   http://www.ehow.com/about_5640929_forensic-science-hair-fiber-identification.html
o   Analysis of hair and fiber evidence can be helpful both in convicting felons and liberating the falsely accused. However, when utilized as definitive data in crime scenes, their reliability is inconclusive. In hair analysis, there are has not been enough research completed to compare the accuracy of the test in a statistical way. Still, when extracted from the hair, DNA can be deemed as an accurate means of testing. In contrast, fiber evidence can be determined as an accurate match with another source by lone statistical elimination.

http://www.nj.gov/njsp/divorg/invest/ofs/images/fiber-comparison.jpg

Notable/famous use of hair/fibers

http://www.newspaperarchive.com/SiteMap/FreePdfPreview.aspx?img=111454108

o   http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/forensics/trace/1.html  

o   In 1990, a young girl found her mother, Eva Shoen, dead from a gunshot in the head. The police looked into obvious leads such as the bullet and Eva’s husband but they led to nowhere. Three years later, the police received a call from a man who believed his brother, Frank Marquis, was to blame. In their investigation, they found that Marquis had been in town for a festival and that he had a police record for rape. They also learned that on his drive back from the festival he had tossed two bundles out of the car, most likely clothes. Detectives narrowed the possible locations and found that a construction crew had recently uncovered a bundle of clothing in a pile of dirt. On a shirt they were able to find a single strand of hair and examine it against a hair sample taken from Eva Shoen. They were a close match and the police was able to acquire a confession from Marquis, however, it was for a lesser crime. Marquis’s plea bargain gave him twenty four years in prison for manslaughter.

History of Fingerprinting

o   http://www.fingerprinting.com/history-of-fingerprinting.php

o   The exact time that fingerprinting first appeared is undetermined, however, evidence is shown for it occurring in Egypt in 2000 B.C.

o   The Chinese uses fingerprints on legal documents; however there is later an argument over if their purpose was to identify individuals or rather for spiritual practices.

o    In Persia in 1350, official documents had evidence of fingerprints, but whether their purpose was to identify individuals is still in question.

     §  One government official questioned if there were any two fingerprints exactly alike.

o   http://onin.com/fp/fphistory.html

o   In 1686, Marcello Malpighi identified fingerprints having ridges, spirals, and loops in his treatise. There was no indication that they could be used for identification

o   In July 1858, Sir William James Herschel introduced fingerprints by using them in his native contracts. At first his aim was not to use them for identification, but he began to notice that each fingerprint was unique as well as permanent. This led him to expand their use.

o   In 1863, Professor Paul-Jean Coulier observes that latent fingerprints can be developed on paper by iodine fuming and explains how to preserve or them. He also notes that they could possibly be used in identifying suspects.

o   In 1880, Dr. Henry Faulds is credited with the first fingerprint identification of a greasy fingerprint left on an alcohol bottle.

o   In 1882, Gilbert Thompson brings fingerprints to the U.S. to prevent forgery on a t=document.

o   In 1892, Juan Vucetich was the first to use a fingerprint to identify a criminal.

o   In 1892, Sir Francis Galton published a book that stated fingerprints were unique and permanent. He also created an identification system for them.

o   In 1902, Henry P. DeForrest  as part of the New York Civil Service Commission, brings fingerprinting to the U.S.

o   In 1903, the New York State Prison system is the first to fingerprint criminals.

o   From 1905 to 1908, the U.S. military and the Department of Justice begin using fingerprints.

o   In 1918, Edmond Locard writes that if 12 points are the same in two fingerprints then they are the same.

o   In 1924, the U.S. Congress establishes the Identification Division of the FBI.

o   In 2005, INTERPOL's Automated Fingerprint Identification System collects over 50,000 fingerprints for important criminal records from various countries.

o   In 2011, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security contains the largest AFIS repository, which contains over 100 million records. Additionally, all US States have individual AFIS databases.